Town: Craig MacGillivray, Ryan Sears, Christos Shelis, Zac Jules, Callum Roberts, Dan James, Ebou Adams, Bryn Morris (Ryan Barnett 80), John McAtee (Chris Gallagher 65), Lenell John-Lewis, Arthur Gnahoua
Subs: Cameron Gregory, Chris Gallagher, George Hughes, Reiss Corfield, Ryan Barnett, Tyrone Ofori
AFC Telford United: Jas Singh, Kallum Mantack, Jordan Gough, Ross White, Aaron Hayden, Jack Rea, Marcus Dinanga, Jonathan Royle, Matthew Barnes-Homer, John Marsden, Elliot Newby
Subs: Shane Sutton, Sheridan Martinez, Regan Upton, Curtis Strong, Kieran Dunbar, Joe Fitzpatrick, Will Marsh, Anthony Dwyer
Team News:
It was a young Town side chosen by Paul Hurst with all eight players who were on the bench against Cardiff taking their places in the starting eleven. Ryan Sears, Callum Roberts and John McAtee make up the Town line-up, with four youth teamers on the bench in Cameron Gregory, Reiss Corfield, Ryan Barnett and Tyrone Ofori.
First Half:
It was Shrewsbury who dominated the opening fifteen minutes with Bryn Morris shooting just wide from the edge of the box and Dan James having a header go comfortably wide of the right hand post after some good interplay between Arthur Gnahoua and John McAtee on the right hand side.
Telford looked dangerous down the Town right and the ambidextrous Elliot Newby caused a few problems for Ryan Sears, but his crosses were wayward, much to the annoyance of Marcus Dinanga and Matthew Barnes-Homer who were leading the Telford line.
Town looked particularly dangerous when they were given space to roam and John McAtee had a 25 yard shot comfortably saved, whilst Arthur Gnahoua caused problems with a couple of mazy runs, but he couldn’t find that all important final ball.
As the half wore on Telford came into it more and Christos Shelis had to be alert to block three shots in quick succession, the first two from Dinanga and the last by Jack Rea from the edge of the box.
The best chance of the half then fell Telford’s way just a minute before the break when they found some space down the left hand side and Telford skipper Jordan Gough delivered a cross to the back-post which Dinanga headed back across goal, but despite connecting with a volley just 8 yards out Barnes-Homer couldn’t keep his shot down and it went over Craig MacGillivray’s bar.
Half Time: 0-0
Second Half:
Telford put the disappointment of that first half miss behind them and took the lead within the opening two minutes of the half. Second half substitute Curtis Strong showed good strength down left hand side to get past Ryan Sears and he played in Elliot Newby who ran 10 yards before shooting through the legs of Christos Shelis before it nestled in the bottom corner.
Town struggled to get to their fluent best in the opening 15 minutes with their best chance coming when Lenell John-Lewis flick on to Arthur Gnahoua who cut inside the Jordon Gough, but his return pass was slightly behind John-Lewis and Telford managed to get numbers back to block the shot.
The second half was a scrappy affair throughout with Town having the better of the half chances. Arthur Gnahoua had started in the number 10 position, but drifted wide as the half wore on and he had a couple of decent efforts after cutting onto his left foot, but neither troubled Jasbir Singh in the Telford goal.
Town continued to push forward and had a spell where they won a couple of corners, but a Zak Jules header which went 6 yards wide was the closest Town came as Telford managed to see out the victory.
Full Time: 1-0